Does the City use recycled or reclaimed water for irrigation?

The landscape areas that are part of the districts currently do not use recycled or reclaimed water for irrigation. While the City would like to use reclaimed water from it’s Wastewater Reclamation Plant, at this time, there are no reclaimed water lines in the district areas.

How are assessments established?

Every district has a maximum allowable assessment which is established at the time of district formation. The maximum assessment is based on maintenance cost projections to cover the cost of maintaining the landscaping and related landscape amenities within each district. Annual adjustments to each district’s assessment are made (up or down) in an effort to balance district maintenance costs with district revenue. The level of assessment cannot exceed the district approved maximum allowable assessment.

How much do I pay for the LMD?

Since each district’s costs are based on the area and number of lots within the district, you will need to review the Engineer's Report for your district to determine your assessment.

Information about Proposition 218

Passed by voters in November 1996, Proposition 218 requires voter approval for assessment increases that exceed the district's approved maximum assessment. In the event that maintenance costs exceed the maximum allowable assessment revenue, special balloting procedures may be implemented to give district participants the opportunity to raise the maximum allowable assessment to cover the district's maintenance needs.

Additionally, in March 2004, the City Council approved a new enduring cap policy. The new enduring cap will be applied through a special assessment ballot proceeding in voter-approved districts.

What are the direct costs that are used in calculating the cap?

Personnel Costs – Wages and benefits for the people who perform the work or contractors cost.

Utilities – Including electricity and phone for running automatic or centralized irrigation systems.

Equipment – For on-going maintenance and future purchases of items such as mowers, trimmers, etc.

What is a Landscape Maintenance District or LMD and why do we have them?

A Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) is created to pay for the costs of on-going maintenance of public landscaping that provides special benefits to parcels in given areas of the City. The district provides services solely for the benefit of those parcels located within each district. These 90 districts benefit about 25% of the City. Formation of LMD is governed by the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code.

There are many benefits associated with the landscaping (parkway, perimeter, entryway, and local median) within the LMD:

Improved visual aesthetic appeal of nearby parcels.

Improved dust control.

Enhanced adaptation of the urban environment within the natural environment.

Improved erosion resistance.

Improved drainage and flood control.

The special enhancement to the value of property, which results from the above benefits.

These improvements may include parkway or perimeter landscaping adjacent to the developments as well as specific in-tract landscaping improvements such as entryway or median landscaping, and monuments associated with the development. To this extent, local landscaping improvements are associated with the individual developments and provide special benefits to the properties within those developments and provide only nominal general benefit.

What is an “enduring cap”?

An "enduring cap" is a maximum assessment that will remain effective from year to year. The enduring cap is a calculation of all direct and administrative costs, plus a 10% contingency, spread evenly across all parcels or acres within each of the districts, with an inflation adjustment of the Consumer Price Index plus 1%. Without an enduring cap, the previous year's assessment as modified for inflation by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) serves as the assessment cap for the new year, which may be significantly less than what is required to fully maintain the district’s landscaping.

Most quality concerns have come from districts that have voted “no” on proposed assessment increases over the years and have then seen their district’s landscaping suffer because there has not been sufficient funding to pay for the labor and water needed to keep the district’s landscaping looking its best.

The new enduring cap will be applied through a special assessment ballot proceeding in voter-approved districts.

What is an Engineer’s Report?

An Engineer’s Report is a document prepared annually by the City under the requirements of the Landscape and Lighting Act of 1972, Part 2 of Division 15 of the California Streets and Highways Code. In order to levy and collect special assessments within the districts, the City must prepare an Engineer’s Report which provides details on the improvements that are maintained and the estimated budgets for each district.

Additional work as needed: playground inspection/repair, decorative light inspection/repair, inspection for acceptance of new sites, vandalism and graffiti cleanup.

Where can I find my district’s Engineer’s Report?

Currently there 90 Landscape Maintenance Districts in the City of Livermore. All 90 districts are updated every fiscal year. A single report contains information regarding district boundaries and assessments for each of the City's 90 districts. The report is available for review at City Hall (Engineering Division) or by clicking the link below.

Which district am I in? Is there a map that shows me which LMD my property is located within? Can you tell me more about my LMD?

Who do I contact if I have a question about the Engineer’s Report?

If you have any questions, please call Kevin Duffus, Associate Civil Engineer, with the Engineering Division at (925) 960-4500.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the maintenance?

Please contact Public Works Department, Maintenance Division at (925) 960-8020 or fill out the on-line request form.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about the Landscape Maintenance Districts?

If you have any questions regarding your assessment or Engineers Report, please contact City of Livermore, Public Works Department, Maintenance Division at (925) 960-8020.

Who maintains the landscaping within the LMD?

City Maintenance crews (Public Works Department, supplemented by Contract Services) perform the majority of the maintenance. All areas are inspected by City Staff. Prior to 2003, the City put out to bid and contracted out all the work to private landscape contractors.